it's all about the journey…not the destination!

HILL, I owe you an apology..

I was in the NY office today, and had a chance to talk to other New Jerseyans about their experiences during Hurricane Sandy. Some were OK, like me…Others, lost so much. The stories are the same, up and down the NJ, NY, and CT coastline. Broken hearts. Broken homes. But then, while chatting with Marathon Brian, and telling my story about how we made out OK, even with the South River across the street — Brian said something profound. When I was explaining how people down the street were flooded, but not us……he said…..”Diane, that HILL….it saved you.” <Ka-Pow! right in the kisser>

It’s true.

That damned, bloody HILL that I climb, e.v.e.r.y. s.i.n.g.l.e. t.i.m.e. I go for a run…..that steep, elongated HILL that batters my knees and squeezes my lungs in the last mile of e.v.e.r.y. run. That HILL…….It Saved Us.

It stood there stubbornly, like a barrier to the water. Made it harder for the South River to climb its banks. Made it tougher for the water to get anywhere near our home.

That dumb, stupid, stubborn, beautiful HILL. It Saved Us.

Tomorrow, is a rest day. No running tomorrow. But come Wednesday morning, the next time I come running up that HILL…I’m going to have a brand new perspective about you. I’m going to be grateful. I’m going to be thankful. I STILL might utter that profanity when I get to the top (you know the one!!!). Yea, probably will. BUT…..I will try to say it more lovingly.

About Diane

Ciao! My name is Diane. I'm a wife, a mom, a working professional, and a Weight Watcher from New Jersey. I started blogging in 2011, at 45 years old, when I was training for my first Half Marathon at Rutgers on April 22, 2012. Since then, I've lost 80 pounds, completed my Half Marathon goal and gone on to train for and run my very first Full Marathon. On Jan 13, 2013, I ran the Disney Marathon in Orlando, Fl! What an incredible day. As the saying goes -- "The person who starts the race is not the same person who finishes the race." I am forever changed! So now we move on to the next phase of this journey! Come along. We're in this together!! Ciao for now!

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Depending on the week, my energy levels, and/or other commitments I attend between two and five Tae Kwon Do classes each week. There are a mix of master instructors leading the classes. In the beginning I avoided Master Mike’s classes whenever I could. They never include forms or patterns (Kata in Japanese, Hyung or Poomse in Korean). They always have 15-25 minutes of sparring, and they’re always the most rigorous aerobically. I hated his classes, to be blunt. But I went when I had to. And, over the course of time, I adapted and became stronger physically, cardiovascularly and mentally. Master Mike’s classes even helped me lose weight, often the holy grail to a weight watcher. I still don’t like Master Mike’s classes … but I am an unleashed and unfed lion, tiger and bear because of Master Mike. Master Mike is to me is what that hill is to you. Bless Master Mike and bless that Hill.